Abstract: A method of storing information corresponding to crop material formed into a bale during a baling process for an aggregation of bales. Crop material is formed into a bale with the baler to obtain a formed bale. At least one parameter of the crop material or formed bale is detected with at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor for the formed bale. The baler is provided with binding material from the binding material roll comprising identification tags at spaced intervals along the binding material. The formed bale is bound with the binding material using the knotter system such that an identification tag is applied to the bale to obtain a tagged bale. A bale ID is created for the tagged bale and the sensor parameter for the tagged bale is associated with the bale ID. Further crop material is formed into at least one additional bale with the baler to obtain at least one additional formed bale.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to wrap twine around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism broadly includes a baling needle, a twine tensioner, and a sensor. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element.

Abstract: A baler includes a near-infrared testing system configured to receive near-infrared radiation reflected by plant material in a bale and to analyze the near-infrared radiation and generate evaluation data reflecting one or more properties of the plant material. The near-infrared testing system is calibrated using a calibration sample at a calibration temperature. A temperature sensor measures a sample temperature of a crop sample of the plant material. A computer receives and combines the evaluation data of the plant material and a temperature-difference offset based on the difference in the sample temperature of the crop sample and the calibration temperature to produce overall temperature-compensated evaluation data reflecting one or more overall property values for the bale, and assign the overall temperature-compensated evaluation data to the at least one bale of the plurality of bales.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to secure a strand of binding material around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism includes a chassis, a knotter head assembly, and a captive lock. The knotter head assembly is operable to form at least one knot in the strand of binding material. The knotter head assembly includes a knotter head frame swingably mounted relative to the chassis and rotatable into and out of an operating position where the knotter head assembly can form the at least one knot. The captive lock is shiftably supported by one of the chassis and the knotter head frame. The captive lock is removably engaged with the other one of the chassis and the knotter head frame to secure the knotter head assembly in the operating position, with the captive lock being releasable to permit rotation of the knotter head assembly out of the operating position.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating individual subunits of material incorporated into a bale and, based thereon, assigning a weighted average quality value to the overall bale. A baler receives, aggregates, compresses, shapes, and secures subunits of a plant material into a bale. An NIR testing system receives and analyzes near-infrared radiation reflected by the plant material, and generates subunit evaluation data reflecting properties of the material in the subunits. A computer receives and combines the subunit evaluation data to produce overall evaluation data reflecting properties of the bale, and assigns the overall evaluation data to the bale. Combining the subunit evaluation data includes assigning weights to the subunit evaluation data and then averaging the weighted subunit property values. Weighting may be based on the amount of time the NIR testing system is exposed to the material in each subunit, and the amount of time may be mechanically determined.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing a sample area of a bale in order to more accurately evaluate the plant material incorporated into the bale. A baler receives, compresses, shapes, and secures material into the bale. A cutter mechanism cuts a portion of the material in the bale into similarly-sized particles. A mixer mechanism mixes the particles into a homogenous aggregate. A compression mechanism compresses the homogenous aggregate into the bale. An NIR testing system receives and analyzes near-infrared radiation reflected by the homogenous aggregate, and generates evaluation data reflecting properties of the material. The cutter may include knives mounted in a compression chamber of the baler. The mixer may be a relief feature on a center rail, the compressor may be a projecting feature on the center rail, and an NIR sensor may be mounted to the center rail so as to press against the surface of the bale.

Abstract: A system and method for physically associating an identifying element with a bale, wherein the element includes a unique identifier and includes or can be used to find calibration and evaluation information. A baler receives, compresses, shapes, and secures plant material into the bale. An NIR testing system, which is associated with the calibration information, receives and analyzes near-infrared radiation emitted by the plant material, and generates the evaluation information reflecting properties of the material. An element securement system physically secures to the bale the element which associates the unique identifier with the bale, wherein the unique identifier is associated with the calibration information for the NIR testing system and the evaluation information for the plant material. The element may be an RFID tag, and an element writing mechanism may electronically transfer the calibration information and/or the evaluation information to the element so that they can be read directly therefrom.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to secure a strand of binding material around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism includes a chassis, a knotter head assembly, and a captive lock. The knotter head assembly is operable to form at least one knot in the strand of binding material. The knotter head assembly includes a knotter head frame swingably mounted relative to the chassis and rotatable into and out of an operating position where the knotter head assembly can form the at least one knot. The captive lock is shiftably supported by one of the chassis and the knotter head frame. The captive lock is removably engaged with the other one of the chassis and the knotter head frame to secure the knotter head assembly in the operating position, with the captive lock being releasable to permit rotation of the knotter head assembly out of the operating position.

Abstract: A system for controlling a position of a pickup on a baler comprises a sensor, a processing element, and a pickup pivot mechanism. The sensor monitors a ground area, senses a presence or absence of a windrow, and outputs a sensor signal with a first level and/or data value indicating the presence of the windrow and a second level and/or data value indicating the absence of the windrow. The processing element receives the sensor signal, and outputs a pickup signal with a first level and/or data value when the sensor signal has the first level and/or data value and a second level and/or data value when the sensor signal has the second level and/or data value. The pickup pivot mechanism receives the pickup signal, lowers the pickup when the pickup signal has the first value, and raises the pickup when the pickup signal has the second value.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a tractor speed based on a performance of a pickup of a baler comprises a flow rate sensor, a processing element, and a tractor speed controller. The flow rate sensor senses a flow rate of a crop into the pickup and outputs a flow rate signal with a level that varies according to the flow rate of the crop into the pickup. The processing element receives the flow rate signal, receives a speed signal regarding a speed of a tractor pulling the baler, compares the flow rate from the flow rate signal with the speed from the speed signal to generate a comparison result, and outputs an electronic speed signal with a level that varies according to the comparison result. The tractor speed controller is configured to receive the speed signal and adjust a speed of the tractor according to the level of the speed signal.

Abstract: A baler includes a near-infrared testing system configured to receive near-infrared radiation reflected by plant material in a bale and to analyze the near-infrared radiation and generate evaluation data reflecting one or more properties of the plant material. The near-infrared testing system is calibrated using a calibration sample at a calibration temperature. A temperature sensor measures a sample temperature of a crop sample of the plant material and a temperature alteration mechanism adjusts the sample temperature of the crop sample so that the sample temperature matches the calibration temperature of the calibration sample before the near-infrared testing system receives the near-infrared radiation reflected by the plant material. A computer receives and combine the evaluation data of the plant material to produce overall evaluation data reflecting one or more overall properties for the at least one bale of the plurality of bales, and assign the overall evaluation data to the bale.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to wrap twine around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism broadly includes a baling needle, a twine tensioner, and a sensor. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element.

Abstract: A knotter assembly for a baler, the knotter assembly configured to form knots in strands of a binding material used to secure a formed bale. The knotter assembly includes a generally circular knotter disc, a rotary billhook, and a pinion which is disposed for meshing engagement with a pair of circumferentially spaced gear stretches on the knotter disc such that rotational movement of the billhook is driven by the knotter disc through engagement of the gear stretches with the pinion. The billhook includes a billhook shaft, wherein the billhook shaft is received in an opening of the pinion. A retaining clip engages the billhook shaft to couple the billhook with the pinion. The retaining clip is C-shaped with a mouth configured to receive the billhook shaft and teeth that engage a groove around at least a portion of the circumference of the billhook shaft.

Abstract: A knotter assembly for a baler, the knotter assembly configured to form knots in strands of a binding material used to secure a formed bale. The knotter assembly includes a generally circular knotter disc, a rotary billhook, and a pinion which is disposed for meshing engagement with a pair of circumferentially spaced gear stretches on the knotter disc such that rotational movement of the billhook is driven by the knotter disc through engagement of the gear stretches with the pinion. The billhook includes a billhook shaft, wherein the billhook shaft has a notch formed along a portion of the billhook shaft that extends parallel to an axis of the billhook shaft. The pinion includes a key that extends into a pinion opening configured to receive the billhook shaft such that the key engages with the notch to connect the pinion with the billhook.

Abstract: A system for determining an amount of and applying a preservative to an individual charge of crop material, wherein the charge is combined with other charges to form a bale. Loose crop material is collected and packed into a feeder chute in such a manner as to pre-compress the material to form the charge. A moisture content of the charge is measured by a sensor while the charge is still in the feeder chute. The charge is moved into a forming chamber, and a control unit determines a correct amount of a preservative to apply to the charge based on the moisture content. The correct amount of the preservative is applied to the charge either before or after the charge is incorporated into the bale. Thus, the system measures the moisture content of each charge, and measures the moisture content of the same charge to which the preservative is applied.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a towed implement proximity system, the system comprising: a first device comprising a transceiver, the first device configured to: transmit a signal; receive a first signal at a first angle and a second signal at a second angle responsive to the transmitted signal, the first and second signals comprising first information and second information, respectively, the first and second information each corresponding to respective positional information; and a controller coupled to the first device, the controller configured to determine a relative position in three axes between a first machine and a second machine based on the first and second information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a towed implement proximity system, the system comprising: a first device comprising a transceiver, the first device configured to: transmit a signal; receive a first signal at a first angle and a second signal at a second angle responsive to the transmitted signal, the first and second signals comprising first information and second information, respectively, the first and second information each corresponding to respective positional information; and a controller coupled to the first device, the controller configured to determine a relative position in three axes between a first machine and a second machine based on the first and second information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a towed implement proximity system, the system comprising: a first device comprising a transceiver, the first device configured to: transmit a signal; receive a first signal at a first angle and a second signal at a second angle responsive to the transmitted signal, the first and second signals comprising first information and second information, respectively, the first and second information each corresponding to respective positional information; and a controller coupled to the first device, the controller configured to determine a relative position in three axes between a first machine and a second machine based on the first and second information.